Based on a shared vision to deeply intensify our transnational collaborations in a sustainable, co-creative community of practice, we – nine universities with strong regional connections and partnerships – have joined forces to form the European University Alliance COLOURS (COLlaborative innOvative sUstainable Regional univerSities). We are united by a willingness to transform our existing partnerships into a dynamic European inter-university ecosystem, which is open and responsive to the needs and challenges of our times. Each individual institution will use the power of this strong Alliance to generate multiple benefits for European societies.